Maui police on case
of theft from charityThe Big Brothers Big Sisters in
Maui County reports $25,000 stolen
WAILUKU >> Maui police are investigating the theft of about $25,000 from Big Brothers Big Sisters in Maui County through unauthorized automated teller machine withdrawals and debit card purchases.
Police Lt. John Jakubczak said the theft reportedly took place between July 1, 2002, and Dec. 31, 2003.
Jakubczak said yesterday that no one has been charged.
Jeffrey Arnold, president and executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters in Maui County, stepped down in March after accounting irregularities were found during an internal audit. He could not be reached for comment.
Big Brothers Big Sisters officials said the amount of money involved in the irregularity would not affect its programs, and the nonprofit group is continuing to serve hundreds of youths on Maui, Lanai and Molokai.
"We're strong and we're going to do fine," said Kathleen Heid, who has been appointed interim executive director.
Big Brothers Big Sisters board Chairman Brian Garraway said his group is looking into "internal procedural irregularities," but he gave no date when the audit would be completed.
"We're working on finishing things up," said Garraway, who serves on a voluntary basis.
The group, employing eight full-time and five part-time employees, teams up qualified adults and teenagers to spend time with and serve as role models for youths who usually are children with single parents or who come home from school without adults to watch over them.
Some 425 youths are matched with the volunteer adults and teenagers in mentor and after-school programs on Maui, Lanai and Molokai.
On Molokai some 40 youths participate in the program, and 48 are on the waiting list, said Council member Danny Mateo.
"It's a vital program for our community," said Mateo, a Molokai resident.
Heid said the group provides friends who can give youths "a more adult approach to life."
"We call it our anti-drug," she said.
Heid said the program serves not only children with single parents, but also latchkey youths whose parents are busy working.
The group has about a $450,000 budget in the current fiscal year, including $56,000 from the county.
Maui County Council members are considering raising the funding to $80,000 in 2004-2005 and putting the funding in as a line item to make sure the money is set aside for the group.
This year, Big Brothers Big Sisters is celebrating its 100th anniversary nationally and its 35th anniversary in Maui County.